In 2010, when post-dubstep was a thing and being a hipster started becoming mainstream, an electronica duo that went by the name Mount Kimbie released a humble debut album. It was shakily produced, the samples didn't always match the beat, some of the guitar playing was horrible and I get the distinct impression it was aimed entirely at hipsters.
It soon became one of my favourite albums of all time.
Everything amateurish about this album somehow works in its favour. It's oddly soulful and rewards many repeated listens. If you aren't familiar with Crooks And Lovers, which would be all of you, I say: stop reading this now and listen to Would Know. It's not the album's best song, but it is the best representative of this album's sound.
Jump to now. Their second album is out, and I just reviewed it, and you are now reading that review. The obvious question is, as with any sophomore album, how similar is it to the début?
But what about the guitars? After all, the guitars (and how they were integrated into the production) were what made Crooks And Lovers so memorable. Well, the guitars take on more of a background role in this album on the odd occasion that they do appear. They contribute more to the atmosphere of the songs, rather than provide the hooks like they did on Crooks. It's interesting that the guitars aren't at the forefront, because the playing has improved since last time. Maybe Dom and Kai of Mount Kimbie didn't want to repeat themselves, or maybe they felt that well-played instruments aren't as interesting. Either way, the inclusion of vocals is the most obvious difference from their first album.
Oh, the vocals themselves? Um, they vary. On some tracks they struggle to make the song memorable, such as Home Recording and Sullen Ground. On others, they arrest your attention over every other element of the song. For example, You Took Your Time features King Krule. He reminds me of an urban, British Gonjasufi. Remember Gonjasufi? No? Well, he was a bearded Californian Warp signee who released his debut album around the same time that Mount Kimbie released theirs. His vocals on tracks like Ancestors were shaky, disturbed and more bizarre than any other vocals I've heard since. King Krule is not quite as bizarre, but he carries many of Gonjasufi's mannerisms. His vocals border on spoken-word, he comes off as deeply disturbed most of the time and he always grabs your attention. He adds a lot to the tracks he's on.
Is it still aimed at the indie kids? I do get the impression that it is. A lot of the vocals will sound familiar to anyone who's ever heard a British indie band like Two Door Cinema Club. This is one of the few times I've ever appreciated that type of vocal, though.
HIGHLIGHTS
On first listen, Break Well got me. It features a soft, melodic build-up which blossoms into a real stomper. It breaks my heart that this one isn't longer, because it doesn't outstay its welcome at all, and I could really do with more of that climax.
Made To Stray is the obvious standout for me. It takes a while for it to get into its stride, but once the vocal comes in, oh lord, you will not get it out of your head for a good while. It's the only track I can think of in which the vocals are just as good as the production.
I was also struck by the modest, shimmering beauty of Fall Out. By the way, Fall Out is a much better closer than Between Time, the closer from Crooks And Lovers. Behind Time was a basic, uninteresting tune that did nothing more than signify that the album was over. Fall Out actually makes you feel something. It's probably the most straight-up pretty song on the whole album, and it almost makes you wish the album wasn't ending, but at the same time reassures you that the album is worth a second listen.
IN CONCLUSION
The way I feel about it is this. It's a more mature, thought-out album than Crooks And Lovers, but Crooks And Lovers was mature enough. Cold Spring sacrifices catchiness for maturity at many points, whereas their debut had plenty of each to go round. The album has some good tunes to match Crooks And Lovers, though, but it takes itself just a little too seriously for any of those tunes to change your life.
Final note? I'd recommend it. But don't expect to leave every song on your iPod. Deleting a few couldn't hurt; you probably won't miss Sullen Ground much. But there is value to this album, and it makes really good mood music for everyday street-walking and commuting, so I'd say, give it a listen before you buy it. Every song has been uploaded to the official Mount Kimbie Youtube channel, which was generous of Dom and Kai. You'd have nothing to lose by checking out Made To Stray, at least.
It soon became one of my favourite albums of all time.
The most Instagram album cover ever, released three months before Instagram was a thing. Truly ahead of its time.
Everything amateurish about this album somehow works in its favour. It's oddly soulful and rewards many repeated listens. If you aren't familiar with Crooks And Lovers, which would be all of you, I say: stop reading this now and listen to Would Know. It's not the album's best song, but it is the best representative of this album's sound.
Jump to now. Their second album is out, and I just reviewed it, and you are now reading that review. The obvious question is, as with any sophomore album, how similar is it to the début?
I'll honestly take the Crooks And Lovers cover any day.
But what about the guitars? After all, the guitars (and how they were integrated into the production) were what made Crooks And Lovers so memorable. Well, the guitars take on more of a background role in this album on the odd occasion that they do appear. They contribute more to the atmosphere of the songs, rather than provide the hooks like they did on Crooks. It's interesting that the guitars aren't at the forefront, because the playing has improved since last time. Maybe Dom and Kai of Mount Kimbie didn't want to repeat themselves, or maybe they felt that well-played instruments aren't as interesting. Either way, the inclusion of vocals is the most obvious difference from their first album.
Oh, the vocals themselves? Um, they vary. On some tracks they struggle to make the song memorable, such as Home Recording and Sullen Ground. On others, they arrest your attention over every other element of the song. For example, You Took Your Time features King Krule. He reminds me of an urban, British Gonjasufi. Remember Gonjasufi? No? Well, he was a bearded Californian Warp signee who released his debut album around the same time that Mount Kimbie released theirs. His vocals on tracks like Ancestors were shaky, disturbed and more bizarre than any other vocals I've heard since. King Krule is not quite as bizarre, but he carries many of Gonjasufi's mannerisms. His vocals border on spoken-word, he comes off as deeply disturbed most of the time and he always grabs your attention. He adds a lot to the tracks he's on.
Is it still aimed at the indie kids? I do get the impression that it is. A lot of the vocals will sound familiar to anyone who's ever heard a British indie band like Two Door Cinema Club. This is one of the few times I've ever appreciated that type of vocal, though.
HIGHLIGHTS
On first listen, Break Well got me. It features a soft, melodic build-up which blossoms into a real stomper. It breaks my heart that this one isn't longer, because it doesn't outstay its welcome at all, and I could really do with more of that climax.
Made To Stray is the obvious standout for me. It takes a while for it to get into its stride, but once the vocal comes in, oh lord, you will not get it out of your head for a good while. It's the only track I can think of in which the vocals are just as good as the production.
I was also struck by the modest, shimmering beauty of Fall Out. By the way, Fall Out is a much better closer than Between Time, the closer from Crooks And Lovers. Behind Time was a basic, uninteresting tune that did nothing more than signify that the album was over. Fall Out actually makes you feel something. It's probably the most straight-up pretty song on the whole album, and it almost makes you wish the album wasn't ending, but at the same time reassures you that the album is worth a second listen.
IN CONCLUSION
The way I feel about it is this. It's a more mature, thought-out album than Crooks And Lovers, but Crooks And Lovers was mature enough. Cold Spring sacrifices catchiness for maturity at many points, whereas their debut had plenty of each to go round. The album has some good tunes to match Crooks And Lovers, though, but it takes itself just a little too seriously for any of those tunes to change your life.
Final note? I'd recommend it. But don't expect to leave every song on your iPod. Deleting a few couldn't hurt; you probably won't miss Sullen Ground much. But there is value to this album, and it makes really good mood music for everyday street-walking and commuting, so I'd say, give it a listen before you buy it. Every song has been uploaded to the official Mount Kimbie Youtube channel, which was generous of Dom and Kai. You'd have nothing to lose by checking out Made To Stray, at least.
MY FAVOURITE TRACKS
1. Made To Stray
2. Break Well
3. Fall Out
4. So Many Times, So Many Ways
5. Meter, Pale, Tone
Least Favourite: Sullen Ground